~ Prakriti Prakash
Tokyo Olympics must be given credit for bringing to our attention some of the most underrated Indian players. We saw multiple underdogs rising to glory in the capital of Japan leaving us in awe. One of these players was Aditi Ashok. With her stellar performance, she has become a common name in every Indian household. We found ourselves waking up at 3 am just to watch her hit the golf ball. A country with absolutely no inclination towards this game turned into a golf enthusiast by the end of the Tokyo Olympics.
So, who is Aditi Ashok? What is her story? Let’s get to know.
Who Is Aditi Ashok?
Born in Bengaluru, Aditi Ashok is a 23-year old Indian golf player. Before the Tokyo Olympic 2020, she ranked 200 in the world rankings. Her journey from the world rank of 200 to number 4 in the Tokyo Olympics stunned the spectators since no one expected her to perform this well.
Aditi started playing golf at the age of 5. She received full support from her parents who even caddied for her at the tournaments including the Olympics. She has won multiple titles as an amateur. She made her Olympic debut in 2016 at the Rio Olympics. However, she failed to make a mark there. She finished 41st at Rio. When asked about the Rio experience just before the Tokyo Olympics, she said she had learnt a lot. And she clearly proved it this time.
Performance In Tokyo Olympics 2020
The Indian golfer amazed everyone by playing her best game so far. She continuously stood 2nd in the first three days of the game. Aditi Ashok gave tough competition to the world no. 1 Nelly Korda who eventually won the gold medal.
The last day of the golf tournament went against her when she got outshined by Inami Mone and Lydia Ko who went on to secure the second and third position. Despite all of this, Aditi’s performance was the finest one from the Indian golfers so far.
Opening about her struggles, Aditi revealed she had to travel for about one and a half hours to reach the golf stadium every morning. She had to wake up as early as 3 am every morning. This severely affected her performance. However, she did not blame this for her defeat. Aditi asserted her desire to perform even better in the next Olympics.
India’s Golf Story
Golf is considered an elite game in India. It is due to the high costs involved in it. In the past, there have been few players like Jeev Milkha Singh and Anirban Lahiri who won medals in Asian Games. However, we have had no luck in the Olympics so far. Aditi Ashok has emerged as a ray of hope for Indians in Golf.
Expectations Ahead
Aditi Ashok’s performance has become a source of inspiration among other Indian golfers. Golf, as a sport, is also receiving greater attention than before. It is possible that in the coming days we will see a lot of Indian players in this field. Aditi is just 23-year old and has a lot left in her. We need to keep supporting her and others who could not bring a medal but performed well in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Paris Olympics 2024 can be the pinnacle of her career if she wins a medal.
MUST-READ – https://skchildrenfoundation.org/glorious-tokyo-olympics-2020/